Ice-making machine



1765- 1955 R. M.,HENDERSON 2,701,453

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet l new F| INVENTOR, uy M. Hender A ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, I955 R. M. HENDERSON ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-l3 INVENTOR. Roy M. Henderson ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1955 R. M. HENDERSON 2,701,453

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-7 FIG-3 INVENTOR. Ru'y M. Henderson Q ATTORNEY Feb. 8, 1955 HENDERSON 2,701,453

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. F' Ray M. Henderson ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1955 R. M. HENDERSON 2,701,453

ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1949 7 Shets-Sheet 5 :0 O A m a I L a ,7, W

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v Q "I 00 8 co n 0 322 5, I F (D m o E o k N INVENTOR. a Ray M. Henderson BY V M WA, Z r m 1 ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1955 R. M. HENDERSON ICE-MAKING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 10, 1949 Q In I'll!!! .'/IIIIIIIIIflffllllllllllll Q? J a A & mm II WWI I IIKI Qm QJ INVENTOR. Roy M. Hendel son ATTORNEYS 1955 R. M. HENDERSON 2,701,453

. ICE-MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 10, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR. R o y M. H end erson z w' W7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 297 24 2 IC -M KH Q A HH l-QILR Yv-M' H ll-@3 9 W gex' e nlisa a ssm s o 1 49 Se a q-slze ,.claim -s1,( wen' @ice.

' .Anot herobjectis to -produce an ic e making machine ....embod ying trays and'grids so const ructed and arranged .thatf t'hewblocks or cubes of rice-frozen therein ean be n eificiently and quickly removed from-the trays While; in

lz t he machine-flay mechanical means andwithoutthefilse 30 wo f heat.

Stillanotherobject is-to so -embody ice freezing-trays win an ice making machine that the-ice-can be removed therefrom Without removing the; trays froin'the machine or-altering-their relationship-vvith thevaporator.

' further-object is to construchan ice making machine in which ice is frozen in trays permanently associat'edwith an evaporator as aninseparableiinit."

-Still a further, object is to produce a-tray'typeof-;ice Wmakii'ig machine in whi chmechanical means, are/emvployed toremove ice fromthe trays lafter removal thereof water will automatically be supplied toproperly refill the trays, said water supply "also being, so aptomaticallyc'ontrolled without 'the useof cubofliyalves that no water-will be supplied to the trays-during' re'moving -:ot: the'icetherefrom.

Yet -a further-object isto so construct -a tray type ice making machine that removal of ice can lac-accomplished 1 l With a pivotalmpvement-of trays and further-this pivotal 1 -movement employed in a mannerto automaticall-y;control the proper supplying of Waterto-thmtr-ays.

A (further object is to' produce anice -making machine -'f the trayand grid'type in whichthe-ice-can be remo'ved ina mechanical manner-g' whilefthg'trays,--grids and ice are being maintained =belcvy fr'eezing te'r npera- Wture. i i A further object. is to; so construct- -an ice -.mak ing machine oftlie-tray and grid 'tyiJe that the evaporator --and formed ice'to he removedirom -thetray with a minimum of applied force and by=a peeling? action.

q i bi is} tqnr y a id .fqsl ssz "blocks i n atrayi wh b e so cons tructed as to uhiefi i s i b .Q Y. ssnsi y ma qs y 'k-"w thijf ksiaqtl 61 riss t i mwlii l t y Wh m. $29

fill tbetr'ayswitli water for the producing; of additional 2,701,453 3;; Patented Feb. 8, 1955 2 a -;when -force is applied to lift -the-grid -m eans from the trays v a a .s Another object is to prod uce a'fiex-ible grid'means for freezing ice -blocks' in a' tray-'whichwWhen caused to be liftedfrpm: the-traywill so operate on the blocks as to move them-"towards or a'way from-each other with- Wout .bindinghction or excessive forces tongthe sides? of the tray;

4 Another object is to. so:construct aegridmeans for ow-freezing -,ice blocks in a tray? that the .wallsathereofac'an 1 Jbe caused to move relatively to eachqother'zwhen-.the=grid means and. .tray,are/sepaiated. i i Another object is to. so construct ahflexiblergridimeans vfor freezing-vice blocks in astray andassdciate-Iherewith removing means that-the gridameans togetherx withnthe blocks of ice, canbeeasily. removed .fr'ofrL-\.the.Lpan'iand matter remojval the'gridfmeansican. be/flexed toaccoxhplish removal of the blocks.

Still a furthe'rtobject is to soconstrucL aniice making vmachineof the typeshaving a tray-1 .and {grid means;v t0 .,form -iceblocks that the grid means and ice; blocks can ;..be lifted upwardly from the tray, the-,blocks of. icede- 7. moved from the grid means when i-nklifted,relationship is and the tray so angularlyipositionedthat the,- ice blocks f allingstherein can be slidably discharged therefrom.

is Another object is to provide fonuse injan i-ic'e making I machine a flexible type of grid means for free zing; ocks 1 of, ice in a; tray, I mechanical ,rneans-s for removjng t he ggrid meansafrom,'thetray andqvotheri means fonpoopera t-ion: with the grid means and ice blocks for; both: flexavi ith i r means an p h glout-j he ehls ss af t i lm an s n a se mQ r-f om t st y- 1 Wi m-Ob c r d ei n: wsmak wm a hine structure for automatics ope ration whichiwill perit ,ice. blg cks tp .be formed in a itraytby 11Sr0 f a grid,

a r d' l s tbs nsi e d r mith r yii hsib s l v M i-s l l i la's sl n et rmine;my

11 d t iwa x-un c n l efitra piv t 40'- resins se t a e lcmpm sii q e .hia s tsms slef pmflt sv:s q a d: .au ht t ot az bi s sa flithe. m ti :w l lasss ssaa a e f: s-fpllaw ns sies i ns sksn. nnes i w 1 F16 awin 'id ss qs n j n is; mak ngsm sli sesmh ."iFiguref 1 side vlievv of -part sv within,gni ice making wnish w i a tt hs r't p s pt str insks is iii'js'ection; f

Fgu're 2 is ,a\.,c ross sectional. yiew ofi the partg said .beingQtaken on ,the line. 2 -2 ;o Eigure. 1; igure 3 is a longi'tudinal sect onal vie hro ugh pne of the ,trays shoyvingQdetails of construct-id 1r1'e ,-par'ts l'saidj view ,being ,taken. on ,th'e li H! I m Ei'g re 2; Y

' "gym .4 is a f ront vievvhoi the hleft hand pqrtion of he i e ma i m chi l a Figure '5 is'a' side'vievv similar to Figure 1, but showing the hparts, in the position assumed at the beginning; of the ing of -s the g ids and ice blocks. from the tra'y; figure Q s a1 cioss st qn vv w Qfapo t qa il partsafiyiewedonthe line 6. 6 of Figure 5;'

gli n' s alon w i al 19 L i w stak ni slt ;.1ine 4 7;o 1? gu gure 8 i anqther side yiewshowing the,pQSition of 4 dirpm the and the tray, has heen'fully tiltedj jFig1 1 re 9 is a side y ielw-of a pqrtiori'otthe griishoyy ing itsfiexihile construction andthe manner in whic h can b w luring se ration of: t e d ir mh at wi 1 t rq medsi i Fi r s, 1 9 a 11 ,a qrps vs ti e .vi ss w s s partsfo rmingthe walls'oftthe grid; Figu e. 2 i a l n di alse t vi wuthrqugha f e i ngi tray and modified grid rneans which nables the'jce ..l9 o, bti ssd frcmfi t yi y peration f lever or other means independently of the. tray svvingin'g leiver; ..i 13. i m); ie dv wshcw sl slmquntins 95. 8o sp rs in l rf r.th ls a i:-: i t 19mi inalls st on l sl w s mil r. to

and the rear posts by cross stringers 23.

- :erally extending pivot pins and bearings.

the ice to the exterior of the machine.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figures 1 to 11, inclusive, the ice making machine which is 111118-- trated as embodying my invention comprises a suitable frame structure F in which is. mounted the essential elemetns of the machine comprising a freezing tray structure T, an evaporator means E, a grid structure G there- .for, a punch means P for punching out blocks of ice formed in the trays, a control mechanism C whereby the ice which is to be frozen in the trays can be freed therefrom and then subsequently be caused to be removed from the grid means, and a reservoir means R from which .water will be automatically supplied to the tray means after the ice blocks have been removed.

1 As'shown in Figures 1 and 2 and also in several of the other figures, the frame structure shown comprises 1 front and back upright supports 20 and 21 with the front supports being connected together by cross stringers 22 Also extending between corresponding side pairs of front and back upright supports are additional longitudinal stringers 24 and 25 (see Figure 2). The tray structure T comprises an outer box-like structure 26 in which is positioned any desired number of trays 27, three being shown by way of example. Beneath the trays and within the tray box 26 a is the evaporator means E for accomplishing the freezing of the water which is to be contained in the trays. The

evaporator shown in a pipe 28 formed into coils so as. to lie below all the bottoms of the trays.

The coils are in direct contact with the bottom walls of the trays and may, if desired, be welded or otherwise secured to the bottom walls of the said trays. The coils are arranged to rest on a false bottom 29 spaced about the bottom wall of the box. The trays and coils are suitably insulated with insulation blocks 30 between the trays and on the outer sides of the two end trays and between the ends of the trays and the end walls of the tray box. A sheet of insulating material 31 is also placed beneath the evaporator coils and in the bottom of the box in the space provided by the false bottom so as to prevent the coils from absorbing heat from the outside of the box through the 'bottom wall thereof and also keep the box from frosting.

The box 26 containing the trays is arranged to be pivoted to the longitudinal stringers 24 and 25 forming part of the framework. This pivoting is accomplished by lat A pin 32 is secured to one side of the box and mounted in a bearing 33 carried by the cross stringer 24 which is on the far side of the box as the said box is viewed in Figure 1. The near side of the box, as seen in Figure l, is provided with another pivot pin 34 which is arranged to be received for rotation in a surrounding sleeve 35, said sleeve being journaled for rotation in a bearing 36 carried by the longitudinal stringer 25. The axes of the two pivot pins 32 and 34 are in alignment and thus the box containing the freezing trays is capable of being swung on the pivot pins.

The sleeve 35, in which the pivot pin 34 is journaled, has secured to its outer end a hand lever 37 by means of which the sleeve can be rotated relatively to the pivot pin 34. This hand lever 37 is preferably placed on the exterior of the machine, that is, exterior of the case or cabinet which will enclose the whole ice making machine but is not shown for the purpose of clarity. The support formed pivot pins 32 and 34 are adjacent the rear end of the tray containing box 26 and thus, in order that the trays may be in a normal horizontal position so water can be held and frozen in the trays, the forward end of the box 26 is provided with an additional supporting means. As best shown in Figures 1 and 5, the supporting means for the front end of the box is in the form of a latch means which will permit said forward end to be freed of support in order that the tray containing box can be swung about its pivotal mounting, all for purposes as will later become apparent. The latch means consists of a latch 38 pivotally mounted on each side of the box at its forward end with the latches connected together for simultaneous operation by means of a cross rod 39. This shaft is suitably journaled in prongs 40 extending from the forward end of the box. Each latch has one arm 41 provided with a notch 42 for hooking over a latchpin 43 carried on the cross support 22 at the front end of the frame structure. Each latch also has a second arm 44 extending alongside of the box and at the rear end of this arm is a pin 45 to which a light spring 46 is connected to thereby normally bias the latch to a locking position.

The pin 45 on the latch 38, which is on that side of the box 26 as viewed in Figure l, is of suflicient length to be engageable by an arm 47 which is employed to unlatch both of the latches 38. As will be seen in Figure 1, the arm 47 has a notch 48 which receives the pin with a sloppy fit. This arm 47 has its rear end secured to the inner end of the sleeve 35 which has already been referred to as surrounding the pivot pin 34. Thus, arm 47 can be rotated by the hand lever 37 and the two latches unlatched whenever the hand lever is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure l. The arm 47 is arranged to have only such a limited movement with respect to the tray box 26 as to perform the unlatching and this is accomplished by providing the box with a pin 49 which is arranged to extend through a slot 50 in the arm 47. After the latches are disengaged, the upper end of the slot 50 will engage pin 49 and thereafter any movement of the arm 47, resulting from a swinging movement of the hand lever in the direction of the arrow of Figure 1, will result in the forward end of the tray box 26 being swung downwardly about its pivotal mounting.

The reservoir R, already referred to, is suitably mounted on the framework rearwardly of the box 26 for the trays. This reservoir extends across the framework and is supplied by water from a water distributing system. The water is arranged to be maintained in the reservoir at a predetermined level by means of well known float controlled valve mechanism. The particular valve mechanism is not disclosed, but there is shown the float 51 for controlling the valve so that water will run into the reservoir until it reaches the indicated level 52. The reservoir R is connected by a flexible conduit 53 with an auxiliary reservoir 54 which is positioned at the back end of the trays in the tray box 26. This auxiliary reservoir is arranged to be connected with each tray by a trough 55. The auxiliary reservoir 54 contained in the tray box will be insulated from the trays so the water in said auxiliary reservoir will not become frozen. The mounting of the tray box 26 and the main reservoir R will be such that when the tray box is in its latched horizontal position the water from the main reservoir can flow through the conduit 53 into the auxiliary reservoigvahnd en the trays are filled up to the proper height, flow of water into the trays will cease as the water level in the trays will then correspond to the maximum level 52 that is permitted in the main reservoir, as determined by the float 51 and the controlled inlet valve. The levels of the water in the trays, the auxiliary reservoir 54 and the main reservoir R, when the trays are properly filled, are shown in Figure 3.

With the auxiliary reservoir in the rear of the tray box positioned rearwardly of the pivotal axis of the tray box, it will be seen that if the tray box is unlatched and the forward end swung downwardly, the rear end of the box containing the auxiliary reservoir will be swung upwardly. This will cause the connection of the flexible conduit 53 with said auxiliary reservoir, which is through the bottom thereof, to be so moved upwardly that the inlet to the auxiliary reservoir will be raised above the maximum level line 52 of water in the main reservoir R. It will then be impossible for any water to flow from the main reservoir to the auxiliary reservoir. This condition is clearly shown in Figure 8 wherein the tray box has been unlatched and caused to be swung downwardly at its forward end by operation of hand lever 37.

Since the tray box is arranged to be pivotally mounted so that its forward end can be swung downwardly and upwardly and said tray box carries the evaporator, flexible connections are necessary for connecting the high and low sides of the coil with the compressor (not shown) of the refrigeration system. As shown in various figures and particularly in Figure 2, the evaporator coil connections include the flexible conduits 56 and 57.

In order that the ice formed in each tray will be in the form of blocks, the previously referred to grid structure G will be employed. This grid structure may take different forms, but in the machine shown in Figures 1 t1; ;a.nq h1 type o .s n d,is;.qnpl9 din @1145 9 .5. t q'ss; iqn der t at hq ce ma n eac ray ombs t e 0111 W th et ay hi s w. the tray surfaces by a peeling actionJz tlrusnraki held vthf y eeina g .ip .a -s l dea xa Qs. .ib he are a559, details of this flexiblegrid structure is best shownin r5 beheldstationsfi t s. 8 9 i an .h, id stru u ,h s a clip,,vv ea he n i ud n lly. e t nd g-fl x b e fla o ich dly i the r u emen d. flos pa t ns: 5 .E ch n f. t es e gqs ipartlt o s h w. x bl r d; ,9 to .wh qh i d ggl a' q tle r si aU-sha dm s-\ i h i r d l :"in u...

.rubber 'ol, llhe erossjpa'r titions are arranged to he tach d: 9 .h t a te d n .md 58 b U: ap d a 63;,.. a *.l p e n .nrqv e .W slots 1 68. 10 eiyethtqnpo b qqt h U- ...1; f p e, shaped iner'nbers'of thegcrosshpartit-ions.. 'I'he clip .leg's material'ih the partitions; As the blocks peelQfroin the are also'provided with-openings: throughhich. the bottom surface of. the tray, peelingwillalso tak efjplace flexible rod 60' ofjthez cross partitions can; fe'xte'ncLQ When atjtheihide surfaces cfif thetray,- the peelingibeing from the'f'flexibleirod 'titl "is extending through openings 65, the bottom upwardly. ,After. the "first .foiifbldcls peel, the .rod'willbebehWth l ng n r a then additional blo'eks' w ill'beginftoilpeel' progressively .ti g th ip 63? to; theflongit'udinahmd 58;; Between toward the rear of thejtrayfin soniewhat the. sjamei inari theheross partitions and carried on theylongltud nally ner as; the removing of adhesivejtap'efroma surface;

extending rod SS areotherfpartitions66 at .1; ht;,angles I118 P6eli-ng;'aetion which. initially takes place on the to the'cross partitions/ These partitions are) also "oftU firstfourblockscah'be likened't'o the lifting of ap'ioe shaped construction and are {positioned on the .ldngi- '25 ofclothijfrom 'the bottQm of a box. vLetfi'tbe,assumed tudi nally exten'ding -rodl58. .Betweenthe legs of. eaeh 'thatjthere is a square box and 'pla'cedon the bottom partition 6 6 is yield ablev insulating .materi al' .67" which thereoff is a piece of cloththe exact size 10fv the"bottoni. can .be'fin the orm t rubber; The partitions .66' will If thisjc'lothji's-no'w lifted at its center; it will he noted that beihel'clfon'the rod 58 bytheclip 63,. said clip'extendit peels ofijthe -bo'ttom gs'urface of ,t'he box .from'the ing'ov'er 'the' partition 66 inthemanner best illustrated liftedcentral point outwardly'an'd also the edges.

in Figure 11. With this c0nstru c"tion of l'the gfrid 'stmesubsequently bemoved awaylfrom the side wallsof'the tune, it will be vseerr'that 'it. is entirely flexible, not boXLj N h 4 1 in the.longitudinalclirection, butrinthe lateral diree on. As [the ice'blocksf'are'.pee1ed"otf'.frorn' the 'traysurl- The forward end of the grid I is arranged ro"b c n- :face, the. rear wall of the tray will swing towards the nested in a fixed condition and thisi is accomplished by grid" structure and a ply force at the rear end of the an arn'i structure 68 wh'ieh is secured to the 'front cross grid. Consequently, withthe forward end of the grid strifriger'f ZZ of the frame structure, 'This arm lstrucheld against movement, the grid will tend to arch up} ture has {a vportion extending 'ovjer'and pivotaIlyIcon- 'wardly at itsoenten This arching will be .s'li'ghtQ The neeted 't'o alug -:69]c'arried bynjthefirst 'c1i ..3 w hich is manner of 'arehin'g' ,is 'i lliistratedin{exaggerated condiat the front end' of the flexible grid structure. The v40 tionjin Figure 9. .Archin'g upwardly ofjthe grid is per} rear, 'end of 'eaeh' grid-structure is arranged. to he Ip'iymitted by the rubberinsulatingmaterial which/is posiotally'.iconnected'tothe trayboxl This accomplished tioned between the legs of the .cross. partition members in a manner asbes t shown. in Figure 3,. Theclip -'63 '61'.,.andf'from Figure 9 it is..r.ea di;ly apparent howthe :atthe rear end of the Lgridhas secured theretoarear'; flexing is acconlplishedg ,In other .WQiidS,.' there will. be wardly extending rod 70 to which, at'therear. en herea eompres'sing of the rubber 'materiall62'betw'ejen' the of, is pivotally connected a link: 71 p for. pivotally' 'conlegs of the partition member 61 which wiHalloW for necting said link to the tray box, the link beingpivoted the, upwardfarching or flexingj'of the grid .structure'jin to'thetray box im the auxiliary r'eservoirYSA. a longitudinal directiorl; After the .ice blocks jhave'been After,'-ice has been l.frozen in the, trays'flthe bloks" of peeled fro m the trays, a continuedfdownwa'r'd. swinging ice will be freed from the trays. byfthe operation 'Of of the. tray box will completelyffreethe trays from. the the hand 'lever'37, causing a pivotal frnovernentj'o f' the ice. blocks and leave the blocks still heldby the flexible tray box. When the. lever 37 "is first moved forwardly grids. It will be noted that because Ofthjpa'rtidlaffe- .in the direction ofithev arrow, as. shown in figure 1, lationship between the pivotal axis of the tray and the the latches 38' will be operated, thus diseonnect'ing the rear pivot of the' grid the-rearend 'of jthe vgrid 'willbe front end'fof the. box from the frame stru ct'urev .in a .moved upwardly outof the tray .a's thetray swings downmanner: illustrated in Figure. 5. After the latches 'have wardly at itsfront end. I E p beenfunlatchedQ the arm 47 will engage the. pin 49' on In order that the ioe blocksfheldiby the grids may theside of the tray boxandv pull thefront end ,of the 11ow. be..free'from.the.grids,.a specialpunchmeans isp'rolboxdownwardly. This pulling of the box downwardly .vided which is best disclosed. TinFigures 1-, 3,5,6, 7 and will, of course, cause the forward end of rthej traysf'to 8.1 Pivotallynmimted'to..the rear crossstringer.236i move with the box as they are secured therein. The the frame structure are arms 72 which extend forwardly,

forfw'ardend of the grids .at the front .clips,,ho'wever, there'being two arms for'each gridstructure. Eadharm cannot move downwardly with the trays, due to' the of, such length;- as to extend. completely to the-front .faet said forward ends areconnectedlto the frame strucend of each .grid structure. Attached togeaoharin Z2 .ture -by 'means of the arms '68. Consequently, the :for- 'overa grid structure is a curved 'member73, the curvaward eentralpart of each grid will begin to be separated ture'thereof 'beingsuch that the centralfpiart .of'the me'nifrom the trayv in which it is positioned, asindicatedfin her is closerto the grid than. the ends which are at- Figures 6 and 7, and vthe result will ;be that the ice taehedtothe arm. 72. On the-lower side :of the :curved cubes will be peeled off from the trays, first at the cen- ,mernber 73'is atoothed rner'nberflt,there'being. a tooth ter part of the grid and then laterally therefrom along for eachiblock of ice. formed by thegrid. The various the bottom of the trays towards the sidewalls. The curvedmembers 73 and the arms 72 arearranged to be ice blocks-willbe peeledfrom the tray surfaces instead connected togetherby orosspieces '75.:and. 76 which also of the surfaces of the grid structure. because there is provide for the connection between theQarms and the less surface of each block congealed. to tray surface curvedmembers. On theou'tsides of the arm-structures than'there 1s to grid surfaces. g g v 72 and the curved: members. 73, are pivoted links 77 To best understand the peeling action that takes place whichextenddownwardly alongside; the .ti'ay box, Each to free the blocks .of ice from the tray surface sfrefr link. is provided witha slot 78 of. considerable lengt h. ence is had to Flgures 6 and 7. As the tray initially Thes'lot of'tlielink 77 onqthe side, of. t-he tray -box idmoye s downward at the forward end there. will be relaljacfeht the arm 47 (see-Figure .1) which is employed to tive .rnovernent between the tray and. the .first elip 63 80 swing the 'forwardend' of the fray'bo'x downwardly is at the f rontof the grid structure which is,fixedto the arranged to have received therein the pin.49 projecting :arrn' 6 8 land thus held stat onary. Slu ce the held lip from,.the side of the tray box. .Theslotbf the other ispat the center ofthe grid-'- the ;cross gpa-r-tition 5 9tassqlinlgr 77, .at the oppositefsideof the tray box receives a ae tharaw 1h ta iv aryi ratts; neut m n 'l -(ise 'l g re he nins'jFtQ a z ,.when-the top. Since: the cross partitlon :lS flexible due to the late causedfto reach .the1lower7ends-ofthe 'slots7 8-in the arouse 'links as a result of the downward forward swinging of the tray box, will then act on the links and pull the various arms 72-downwardly. This will cause the tooth members to engage the blocks of ice carried in the grid. When the blocks of ice are engaged by the teeth, they will push the blocks of ice downwardly and also cause the flexible grid to be flexed from its upwardly arched position to a downwardly curved position as best shown in Figure 7. The'result will be that the blocks of ice will be peeled away from the cross partitions and then punched out ofthe grid structure. As the blocks of ice fallout of the grid, these blocks will drop into any suitable storage bin (not shown). Any blocks of ice which 'fall into the trays will slide down the trays and over the front end thereof due to the sloping position of the-trays.

From the foregoing detailed description of my ice making machine, it is believed to be obvious how it will operate. When the ice trays and the tray box are in their horizontal position and latched, as illustrated in Figure 1, water will flow to the desired height into the trays with the' grids therein. The heat in the water in the trays will then be absorbed by the evaporator through the bottom of the trays. When the ice blocks have been formed, it will only be necessary to pull the lever 37 forwardly in order to free the ice cubes and cause them to drop into a storage bin. The trays will automatically be refilled with water whenever the trays are again placed in horizontal position by a return of the lever 37 to its postition Where the tray box will be latched horizontally. In freeing the ice blocks, the first forward movement of the lever 37 from the position shown in Figure 1 will cause the latches 38 to be freed 'by the downward movement of the arm 57. When the latches are unlatched, the arm 47 will engage the pin 49 and further movement of the lever 37 forwardly in the direction of the arrow will cause the arm 47 to swing the forward end of the tray box downwardly and cause the tray box to pivot on its pivot pins 32 and 34. This 'will free the trays from the grids in the manner already described and leave the blocks of ice still held in the grids. When the downward swinging of the tray box reaches a position where the two pins on the sides thereof will engage the ends of the slots in the links 77, the toothed punching members will be pulled downwardly and as a result grids will be flexed and the blocks will be punched out of the grids in a manner shown in Figure 8. When the tray box reaches a downwardly inclined position Where the'punches are about to be operated, the rear end of the tray will be so raised that water can no longer flow from the main reservoir R to the auxiliarv reservoir 54, due to the position of the inlet to the auxiliary reservoir being above the level line of any water in the main reservoir R. With fiow of water to the auxiliary reservoir no longer possible, water will also cease to run into the trays. There will, however, be some spilling of water which is in the auxiliary reservoir at the time the trays are moved to their downwardly inclined osition. This water will not be detrimental, but probably beneficial, because it will be above freezing temperature and will tend to wash any pieces of ice out of the travs which mioht have been stuck to the trays when the blocks of ice were peeled off.

After the lever 37 has been pulled forwardly as far "as possible and the blocks of ice punched out of the grid means, the lever 37 will be returned to its position as shown 'in Figure 1. This will result in the tray box being brought back to its horizontal position and latched in such position. The return of the tray box to its hori- 'zontal' position will also result in the grid means being placed back in the trays. Also as the tray box is brought back to its original horizontal position, the inlet to the auxiliary reservoir will move below the level of the water in the main reservoir R and water will then begin to flow from the main reservoir into the auxiliary reservoir. As the water flows out of the main reservoir, the float will fall and then such additional water will flow into the. reservoir until the water level in the auxiliary reservoir and the trays reaches the same level as will be permitted'by the float controlled inlet valve of the main reservoir.

It will be noted that during the removal of the ice blocks from the trays and the grid means, there will be no disconnection of the evaporator, and when the tray box is "again placed in horizontal position the evaporator will immediatelyfunction to begin freezing the water in the numerals.

trays to produce more blocks of ice. 7 When these new blocks are made, they can be removed in the manner already described.

The removing of the ice from the ice trays by a downward swinging of the forward end of the tray box is illustrated as being accomplished by the hand operated lever 37. However, in place of the lever 37, other means can be employed to accomplish the downward swinging of the forward end of the tray box. For example, an electric motor can replace the lever 37. This motor could be started under the control of a suitable switch which would be closed only when the ice in the trays is fully frozen. The motor would be stopped when the forward end of the tray box reaches its'fully inclined position and the ice cubes have been knocked out by the punches. A reversal of the motor would then recondition the trays and grid for the making of additional blocks of ice.

In Figures 12, 13 and 14 there is disclosed a different type of grid means for the trays of an ice making machine embodying my invention, said grid means being so constructed as to permit, if desired, the ice blocks to be freed from each tray by a member operable independently of any pivotal movement of the tray or tray box and the control means which functions to unlatch and swing the tray box on its pivot. The construction of the trays, the tray box, the auxiliary reservoir at the pivoted end thereof, the latch means at the forward end of the tray box and the control means for performing the unlatching and pivoting of the tray box may all be the same as already described in connection with the ice machine shown in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive. These similar parts disclosed in Figures 11 to 13 are indicated by the same reference The grid means G, which takes the place of the grid means G shown in Figures 1 to 11, is of the type in which various parts are caused to be relatively movable when it is desired to free the blocks of ice. Each grid means G has a central longitudinally extending plate member which forms a longitudinal divider in the lower part of a tray. Above this plate member 80 is a series of articulated members 81. The rear articulated member is connected by a member 82 with a link 83 which has its lower end pivotally mounted in the auxiliary reservoir 54. The forwardarticulated member 84 extends to cooperate with a roller 85 carried by a support structure 86 which is secured to the front cross stringer 22 of the frame structure. Also pivotally mounted on this support structure 86 at its front end is a hand lever 87. Links .88 pivotally connect this hand lever above its pivot with an arm 89 which is pivoted to both the longitudinally extending plate member 80 of the grid means and the member 84 which is arranged to cooperate with the roller 85. The connection between the link 88 and the arm 89 is accomplished by providing two rollers 90 and 91 between be connected to the top end of the arm 89, there is provided a short link 92 which pivotally connects the central part of the link 88 to the support member 86.

The grid means, in addition to comprising the single longitudinally extending plate member 80 and the articulated members 81, also has cross partitions 93. These cross partitions, the articulated members and the longitudinally extending member 80 together form cells in which the blocks of ice can be formed. The partitions 93 have central openings through which the articulated members and the plate member 80 extend as illustrated. When the grid means is positioned in a tray, as shown in Figure 12, so as to be in condition for freezing blocks of ice in the tray, the articulated members will be so positioned relative to the longitudinal member 80 that the cross partitions 93 are angularly disposed. When it is desired to free the blocks of ice from the grid means, such will be accomplished by pulling outwardly on the lever 87, as indicated by the arrow, and moving this lever from the position shown in Figure 12 to the position shown in Figure 14. As the lever is'moved outwardly the arm 89 will be pulled forwardly by the links 88. This forward movement of the arm 89 will cause it to swing about its pivotal connection with the forward end of the plate member 80 and as a result thereof the forward articulated member 84, together with all the other articulated members 81, will be pulled forwardly. The member 84 will then be caused to ride up and rest on the top of roller 85 carried by the support structure 86. The moving of the" articulated members '81- forwardly relative tothe longitudinally extending 'moinber' plate 80" will result inthecross partitions 93 of the grid means being moved from "their angularposition's shownin Figure 12 (assumed during the freezing operation to 'produc'ethe blocks of ice )'to a substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 14. This movement of the articulated members and the cross partitions will-cause the blocks of ice tobe freed fromconge'ald relation with all the parts of the grld'ineans. Also, the block's, will be freed fro'm'the inner side walls of the tray. Withthe blocks now'freed, they can be removed from 'the trayby'un'latching the tray box in. a manner already described .in connection with theice machine shown in 'Figures'l to .11, and"then swinging the traybox downwardly to the position shown in Figure '8. Thisis all accomplished by pulling forwardly on the hand lever "37. The ifreedice-blocks will then drop'from the "grid'ineans intothe'tray asthe trayis swung down- 'wai"dly,?and-when' the tray: reachess'uch an anglethat the ice'will slide outer the forward endof 'the tray by gravity,"the 'tray' will be e'rIiptiedI I During pivoting of' the tray box, water will' be prevented fror'n'flowing intothe tray'fmm the auxiliary reservoir,due to the raising of 'the water inlet of'this' auxiliary reservoir. After the tray has been emptied of ice it can be 'swu'ng'b'ack to its horizo'ntal position and its' forward end relatched. When it assumes its horizontal position, water will fiowinto the tray and .fill it to the desired'levelf The grid means G" can beplaced'back'into"the tray to formnew blocks by swinging the lever 37, shown in Figure 14, to" the position shown in Figu'relZ. I

With the grid means shown in'G it is not necessary to operate the lever 8'7 to free the ice ffrom'a tray'unle'ss such -is desired. The ice' blocks can be freed from'the tray by first =Unlatch'ing the forward endof the tray and swinging the grid box downwardly to a position such'as that shown in Figure 14; The ice will then be ,peeled oif the tray as the forwardend of the tray moves downwardly. If; it is later desired to free the ice blocks 'ifro m the grid means, the hand lever 87 can be moved'from the position shown in Figure '12 to' the .posit'ions'ho'wn in Figure 14. The ice blocks will {then drop down into the tray"and'if the tray is at a suflicient angle the ice blocks will slide by gravity out of the forwardfend of the tray into asuitable compartment below the tray. This'rnethod of operation, that is,-fir st freeing the blocks from the tray by unlatching the tray box and swinging the forward-end of the tray box downwardly, Twillaperm'it emptying any desired number of trays without disturbing the ice blocks in other trays. Any trays which are desired tobe emptied can be emptiedafter the -t-ray box is swung ;downwardly merely by operating the desired levers 87 for each tray which is desired to be emptied. If certain levers 87 are notpulled, the ice blocks will continue to be held in the .grid means during tilting of the trays.- I When theitrays again assume horizontal positions, the blocks not loosened from the grid means will go backinto the trays. I

;In some-'machines it may be desired to convey "the removed; blocks of ice tothe exterior of the machine directly from the trays. A chute arrangement-for accomplishin'gthis isdisclosed in Figures 15 and 16. The

front supports 20 may have mounted-thereon, a distance belowthefront cross stringer 22, apivo't'rod 95 to which is pivoted'a chute 96. There will-be a chute-for each tray 27; The upper end of the chute extends to apoint just belowthe cross stringer and will rest against the cross rod- 39011 which the latches are mounted. wEa'ch chute at its Lpivotal mounting on pivot rod 95flhas secured thereto a laterally extending weight 97. This "weight will normally tend to swing-the chute to which= it is connected in :a clockwise direction,:-astseen in Figures "-15 and 16, which will be toward thetray. When the' tray is latch'ed in itshorizontal position, the cross rod 39 will prevent the chute from moving and maintain-it in its vertical position as seenin Flgure' 1 5.

If the box 26 should be unlatched in a manner already described and caused to swing downwardly so as to free the blocks of ice and punch them out of the grids, the upper end of each chute will enter its corresponding tray at the front end thereof and then move into the tray as the tray swings downwardly. The movement of the tray is effected by the weight 97, as can be readily understood from Figure 16. Consequently, as the blocks are freed and drop from the grid, they will enter the chute andbe conveyed thereby tothe exterior of ,theqmachine. As the chute swings to the position shown in Figure .16, the"low'rend will swing outwardly andif a suitable opening isprovide'd in the housing of the machine'the 'ice will slide 'to the exterior of the machine When the box" 26 is returned to horizontal,latched'positiondhe chutes will-assume their"vertic'al position as shown in Figure 15; I I V I Being aware of the possibility of modifications in the ice machine structure shown and described as embodying my invention, without departing from'thefundam'ental principles of the-invention, -I desire it to'be understood thatmy invention is not to be limited except in accordance with the appended claims.

What, 'is claimed is 1 I I 1. In anjice making machine, a tray, a grid meansfoi' the'tray, means'for making ice in the tray which will be separated into blocks by the grid means, means for freeing the tray from the grid'means and the formed ice, means for pivotally mounting the tray adjacent one end for swinging to a position where ice falling from the grid means canmove by gravity/away fromthe trayfrneaiis for pivoting the tray, and means'operable by the last named means for substantially simultaneously punching 'out all the ice blocks congealed to the grid means by the application of a direct force to the ice blocks.

2. In an ice making machine, a receptacle in which water can be frozen, means for pivoting 'the receptacle adjacentone end,a flexible grid for the receptacle to therebyca'use the i'ce'to be formed in blocks, means "for separating the grid together withthe. ice from the'receptacle 'by' pivotedmovement of the receptacle, and means for flexing the grid after its separation fromthe' -receptacl'e 'to thereby free'the ice therefrom. I

3. In mice making machine, a tray formakingfice, a flexible grid for the tray, means'including means for swinging the tray downwardly about a pivot for causing the grid with ice congealed thereto to be 'separatedtrorn the tray, and means normally positioned above the grid for causing the grid to be'fiexed from its planarposition assumed during ice making to a curved-condition." I

4. In an icemakingr'nachine, a receptacle for-water and in whi'ch'iceis to be formed therefrom by freezing, a grid forthe receptacle to thereby form the ice in blocks, means for 'supp orting the grid at least at one end ind epende'ntly of the receptacle, means for freeing the ice frornthe receptacle by' causing parts of the grid to' mo've relatively toother parts thereof,- and means for pivotally swingingthe receptacle to a position where one end is extending downward to thereby 'allowthefreed ice to fall by" gravity to a place below the receptacle; I

S. In ice making apparatus, a tray for containing water and in whicli'ice is tobe frozen, anevaporator means secured to the tray, 'in'eans for pivotally "mounting the evaporator means I and tra-y adjacent" i one end -so that by movement 'of" the 'othe ri end' 'there' will be pivotal movement-from and to awatercontaining position for the'ftr'ay, means forfreeing' lice-in the'trayfrom a w -esteemetio rr with theftray, and means for pivotally swinging the tray and e'vaporator meansdownward to a positiomwliere thetray bottom is at a substantial sloping angle and the icewhich has "been freedfrom the'tray may fallby' gravity to a place below the tray,

6. "In"an'ice'making ma'ch.ine, a receptacle for water tobe frozen, means for pivotally swinging the receptacle fromfla horizontal'position, a waterreservoir, meansifor maintaining water from a source injthe reservoir at a predetermined "level therein, conduit means between the reservoir "and receptacle, said receptacle being so' arrangfe'd'vfvith'respectjtothe reservoir thatwhen'the receptacle is in its"liorizontal position Water will 'fiowby gravity fromithe 'reservoir and fill the receptacle to a predetermined height the level of'whic'h will correspond to the predetermined leyelo'f the'reservoir, and means including thepivoting of the'receptacle .ror'rem'ovin ice therefrom and permit't'ingit, to 'fallfbylgravity to a place below the receptacle,"said receptaclebeingso pivoted and said conduit means being so connected with the receptacle that upon pivoting of the receptacle during ice removal a portion of the conduit means will be caused to be positioned above the predetermined water level of the reservoir.

7. In ice making apparatus, a tray in which ice is to be frozen, an evaporator means secured to the tray to form a unitary structure, means for pivotally mounting one end of the tray and evaporator so that the tray can be swung from a horizontal position to a position where the bottom slopes to one end and then returns to horizontal position, a source of water, means for automatically supplying water to the tray to a predetermined height therein when the tray assumes horizontal position, means including the pivoting of the tray from horizontal position for removing ice from the tray and permitting it to fall by gravity to a place below the tray, and means functioning as a result of the tray pivotally moving from its horizontal position for preventing water from the source from flowing to the tray.

8. In ice making apparatus, a tray for containing water and in which ice is to be frozen, an evaporator means secured to the tray, means for mounting the evaporator means and tray for pivotal movement from and to a horizontal position for the tray, means associated with the tray when in its horizontal position for holding the ice and permitting the tray to be separated from the ice, and means for pivotally moving the tray and evaporator relatively to the ice holding means from the trays horizontal position to thereby separate the tray from the ice and permit the ice to be held by the said holding means.

9. In ice making apparatus, a tray for containing water and in which ice is to be frozen, an evaporator means secured to the tray, means for mounting the evaporator means and tray for pivotal movement from and to a horizontal position for the tray, means including relatively movable parts associated with the tray when in its horizontal position for holding the ice frozen therein and permitting the tray to be separated from the ice, means for pivotally moving the tray and evaporator relatively to the holding means from the trays horizontal position to thereby separate the tray from the ice and permit the ice to be held by the said holding means, and means for positively freeing the ice from the holding means by causing relative movement between parts thereof.

10. In ice making apparatus, a tray for containing water and in which ice is to be frozen, an evaporator means secured to the tray, means for mounting the evaporator means and tray for pivotal movement from and to a horizontal position for the tray, flexible grid means associated with the tray when in its horizontal position for holding the ice frozen therein and permitting the tray to be separated from the ice, means for pivotally moving the tray and evaporator from the trays horizontal position to thereby separate the tray from the ice and permit the ice to be held by the said grid means, and means for flexing the grid means to thereby free the ice therefrom.

11. In ice making apparatus, evaporator means, a tray secured to the evaporator, means for mounting the evaporator means and tray for pivotal movement from and to a horizontal position, a grid means for the tray, means for so mounting the grid means that said grid means and the frozen ice can be separated from the tray by a pivotal movement of the tray and evaporator means, means for supplying a predetermined volume of water to the tray when it is in horizontal position, means functioning when the tray is pivoted from the horizontal position for preventing water from being supplied to the tray, and means operable by the pivotal movement of the tray for punching ice out of the grid means.

12. In ice making apparatus, evaporator means, a tray secured to the evaporator, means for mounting the evaporator means and tray for unitary pivotal movement from and to a horizontal position, a grid means for the tray, mechanical means for freeing the grid means and ice from the tray while the tray remains in upright position, means pivotally moving the unitary evaporator means and tray from horizontal position so that freed ice can fall by gravity to a place below the tray, and means for supplying water to the tray, said last named means being controlled by the plvotal movement of the tray.

13. In an ice making machine, an evaporator provided with a surface exposed upwardly and being in heat transfer relation therewith, means for mounting the evaporator and surface at one end for pivotal movement as a unit, means for supplying water to the surface so it can be frozen, said ice being frozen while the evaporator and surface are in a substantially horizontal position, means for freeing formed ice from the surface while the surface remains upward in substantially the horizontal position, and means for pivotally swinging the evaporator and surface as a unit to a position where the surface slopes downwardly from the pivoted end.

14. In an ice making machine, an evaporator provided with a surface exposed upwardly and being in heat transfer relation therewith, means for mounting the evaporator and surface for movement from a position where the surface is substantially horizontal to a sloping position, means for confining water on the top of the surface while horizontal so ice will be formed, means for freeing the ice from the surface and water confining means While both remain in their water confiing relationship, and means for moving the evaporator and surface as a unit to a sloping position of the surface.

In an ice making machine, a receptacle in which water can be frozen, means for freezing the water, a flexible grid for the receptacle to thereby cause ice to be formed in blocks, means for separating the grid together with the ice from the receptacle, means for punching the formed blocks from the grid means, said punching means being mounted independently of the grid means and when inoperative being separated therefrom, and means for moving the punching means relatively to the grid means to bring the punching means and blocks together to accomplish the freeing of the blocks from the grid means, said punching means and grid means being so related that during punching operation the grid means will be flexed to thereby aid in freeing the ice blocks.

16. In an ice making machine, a receptacle in which water can be frozen, means for freezing the water, a grid for the receptacle to thereby cause ice to be formed in blocks, means for separating the grid together with the ice from the receptacle by a movement of the receptacle, means for punching the formed blocks from the grid means, said punching means being mounted independently of the grid means and when inoperative being separated therefrom, and a single operable means for first moving the receptacle to free the ice blocks from the receptacle and then moving the punching means relatively to the grid means to bring the punching means and blocks together to accomplish the freeing of the blocks from the grid means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,757,033 Wolcott May 6, 1933 2,054,074 Field Sept. 15, 1936 2,269,184 Dalton Jan. 6, 1942 2,320,534 Osborn June 1, 1943 2,378,845 Hallock June 19, 1945 2,403,275 Gilliam July 2, 1946 2,407,058 Clum Sept. 3, 1946 2,431,916 Caesar Dec. 2, 1947 2,444,789 Reeves July 6, 1948 2,466,831 Van Vleck Apr. 12, 1949 2,487,408 Askin Nov. 8, 1949 2,493,900 Schaberg Jan. 10, 1950 2,496,210 Henderson Jan. 31, 1950 2,508,625 Smith May 23, 1950 2,516,257 Sampson July 25, 1950 2,522,651 Van Vleck Sept. 19, 1950 2,526,262 Munshower Oct. 17, 1950 2,545,558 Russell Mar. 20, 1951 2,563,093 Bayston Aug. 7, 1951 2,583,294 Erickson Jan. 22, 1952 2,586,588 Weseman Feb. 19, 1952 2,606,427 Kirkpatrick Aug. 12, 1952 

